Homeless cats and dogs face a distressing reality: there simply aren’t enough homes for them all. Streets and shelters are overflowing, and the statistics are deeply troubling. Each year, approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter shelters across the country—3.9 million dogs and 3.4 million cats. Tragically, about 2.7 million of these animals are euthanized annually (1.2 million dogs and 1.4 million cats).
At the Animal Refuge Center, we’ve witnessed countless homeless pets come through our doors since 1989. We often hear from community members who adopted from us years ago and still cherish their pets, with some even celebrating milestones like their pet’s 20th birthday.
Our commitment as a No-Kill Shelter has been a challenging journey. In the early days, No-Kill was a novel concept, met with skepticism and predictions of failure. Yet, we proved those doubters wrong. This brings us to our new Sponsor A Pet Program.
Launched in the mid-90s, our Sponsor A Pet Program allows supporters to pledge $11 per month to help care for the pet or pets of their choice. This initiative was designed to address the primary concern of skeptics— how to manage the influx of unwanted animals.
Many pets that come to us face obstacles to adoption, such as age, disability, or health issues. Some may have spent years on the streets, contracting illnesses or suffering from neglect. Despite these challenges, every pet at ARC receives the care and affection they deserve.
Changing the world for these animals requires collective effort. Even if you can’t adopt, you can make a difference. Visit our Pets For Adoption page and you can choose a cat or dog to sponsor from our listings. If you’re unable to commit long-term, consider a one-time donation on our Donation page— every contribution helps save lives.
The Animal Refuge Center’s Sponsor A Pet Program has proven vital and enduring. Many pets may never find a permanent home, but with your support, they will always have a safe, loving environment at ARC. Click the Become A Sponsor button, complete your sponsorship through Paypal, and make a lasting impact on a pet’s life.
Explore our Pets For Adoption page, choose the pet that touches your heart, and make a sponsorship pledge to help save a life. After completing your Pet Sponsorship pledge, you’ll be redirected to our Thank You page, where you can send us an email to specify the pet you’d like to sponsor.
Hi, I love animals. If I could I would adopt a cat and maybe another dog. But currently I live with a German Shepard already, in a town house. I would like to sponsor an animal and want to know if we could visit the animal we sponsor.
Yes, absolutely!!! When you get your sponsor packet, you get a description of your sponsor pet, and visiting is always encouraged! That way both sponsor and pet know the love they’re giving and getting is real, and not an impersonal photo exchange program.